President William Ruto has hit back at the opposition over criticism of his development record, saying his political rivals are inadvertently giving his projects free publicity as they campaign against his administration.
Speaking in Wundanyi, Taita-Taveta County, on Saturday, Dr Ruto said he would continue implementing roads and other development projects across the country despite criticism that some infrastructure was being concentrated in areas associated with him.
“Opposition is saying ‘Ruto is being used to build roads to my area’. That is true, I will build all roads and God is helping me. Those castigating me are saying the truth that I have done a number of projects and opposition is doing a good job to give my projects free publicity,” said Dr Ruto.
The President said he was prepared to face criticism as he sought to complete projects before the end of his first term, arguing that his record would provide the opposition with material to discuss during the 2027 election campaigns.
He questioned the argument that government roads were being constructed to serve his political interests, saying his administration was undertaking infrastructure projects across the country.
Dr Ruto’s remarks came as he began a development tour of the Coast region, with his administration placing infrastructure, land ownership and education projects at the centre of its engagement with residents.
He also acknowledged shortcomings in infrastructure after expressing surprise at the condition of a road in Wundanyi.
The President said he had been assured that the road was in good condition but found the situation different when he visited the area.
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“Salala! Balaa kubwa,” Dr Ruto exclaimed as he reacted to the state of the road, promising to address infrastructure challenges affecting residents.
He also pledged to tackle the long-running squatter problem in Taita-Taveta through the issuance of title deeds, saying residents should not continue living as squatters on ancestral land.
“This week I will give out 20,000 title deeds to Taita-Taveta people and after a short time, before the election, I will return to give those who had missed title. We cannot live in our ancestral land as squatters,” he said.
President William Ruto addresses residents of Wundanyi, Taita Taveta County, on Saturday, September 26.
The Coast tour is expected to see the government distribute nearly 200,000 title deeds across the six coastal counties, as part of a wider plan to address historical land ownership challenges.
In Taita-Taveta, the government has earmarked 31,318 title deeds for beneficiaries in Mwatate and Voi constituencies. The programme is part of a broader target to issue 500,000 land ownership documents in the Coast region.
Dr Ruto also sought to link development spending with expansion of education infrastructure, laying the foundation stone for a Sh145 million, 340-bed hostel at Wumingu Technical and Vocational College.
The project, being implemented under the government’s Affordable Housing Programme, is intended to ease accommodation pressure among students in technical and higher education institutions.
The President said the government was investing Sh2 billion in Taita-Taveta to construct hostels capable of accommodating about 5,000 students in universities, technical colleges and Kenya Medical Training College facilities.
He said the government would also tarmac the road linking Wundanyi town to Wumingu TVC and improve water and electricity supply to the institution and surrounding communities.
The President further pledged to follow up on a request by teachers in the region for hardship allowance, saying he had personally witnessed the difficult terrain in the county.
“I have been informed that the teachers of this region are requesting a hardship allowance. I will follow up on the issue and see the way forward on how we can handle the matter,” he said.
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“I will follow up on the issue because I have arrived here and seen that indeed there is a hardship in this region, and walking on such a hilly place is a very tough task,” he added.
The President’s visit comes as political parties and leaders begin positioning themselves for the 2027 General Election, with development projects increasingly featuring in political messaging.
The Head of State has in recent weeks intensified his criticism of the opposition, challenging its leaders to present alternative programmes rather than focusing on his administration.
His Coast tour covers Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu, where he is expected to inspect projects, engage residents and launch or commission development programmes.
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